Ballot

April 22, 2025
Seal SD Liberty

📝 Steps to Get the Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot

🏛️ SEAL SD Guides You Through the Process

At SealSD.com, we’re empowering South Dakotans to take charge of their future with the Core GRT Plan, part of the Maximum Liberty Plan (Plan 2). This plan replaces all state taxes with a single 5% Gross Receipts Tax (GRT), generating $3.6 billion and saving you $3,000–$5,000 annually by eliminating property taxes. To make this a reality, we need to amend South Dakota’s Constitution by placing the Core GRT Plan on the November 2026 ballot, a process that requires 35,017 signatures by May 5, 2026. This page provides a step-by-step guide to getting the amendment on the ballot, showing how your participation can drive this citizen-led initiative to secure tax freedom for all.

📜 Step 1: Draft and File the Petition

The first step is to draft and file the petition for the Core GRT Plan amendment with the South Dakota Secretary of State, ensuring it meets all legal requirements:

  • Draft the Amendment: SEAL SD worked with legal experts to draft the amendment, ensuring it clearly outlines the replacement of all state taxes with a 5% GRT and the elimination of property taxes, as detailed in our plan overview (Page 7: Plan Overview).
  • File with the Secretary of State: On November 3, 2025, we filed the petition, marking the start of the one-year circulation period (Page 14: Constitutional Amendment). The Secretary of State reviewed and approved the petition, allowing us to begin collecting signatures.
  • Legal Compliance: The petition adheres to South Dakota’s requirements, including a clear title and text, and was submitted at least one year before the November 2026 election, as mandated by state law.

Analogy for Clarity: Filing the petition is like sending out the picnic RSVP form—we wrote down the picnic plan to make it free, got the picnic boss’s approval, and now we’re ready to ask picnic friends to sign up for the big picnic vote!

🗳️ Step 2: Collect 35,017 Signatures by May 5, 2026

The heart of this process is gathering signatures from registered South Dakota voters to show widespread support for the Core GRT Plan:

  • Signature Goal: We need 35,017 valid signatures, equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, as set by the South Dakota Secretary of State (Page 14: Constitutional Amendment).
  • Circulation Period: We began collecting signatures on November 3, 2025, after filing the petition, and have until May 5, 2026, to gather them. SEAL SD kicked off the campaign at the Liberty Forum on April 19, 2025, in Rapid City, rallying attendees to sign and volunteer (Page 22: Thank You to Liberty Forum Attendees).
  • How We’re Doing It: Volunteers are gathering signatures at community events, farmers’ markets, and door-to-door across South Dakota—from Sioux Falls to the Black Hills. You can also sign online or at local businesses displaying SEAL SD posters.

Analogy for Clarity: Collecting signatures is like inviting 35,017 picnic friends to RSVP for the free picnic by May 5, 2026—we’re setting up picnic tables at every picnic spot, asking friends to sign the picnic guest list, and making sure everyone joins the picnic party!

📋 Step 3: Submit and Verify Signatures

Once collected, the signatures must be submitted to the Secretary of State for verification to ensure they meet the requirements:

  • Submission Deadline: We’ll submit the signatures by May 5, 2026, the final deadline to qualify for the November 2026 ballot.
  • Verification Process: The Secretary of State will verify that all signatures are from registered South Dakota voters, using a random sampling method to check validity. To account for potential invalid signatures, we’re aiming to collect 45,000 signatures to ensure we exceed the 35,017 minimum.
  • Outcome: If verified, the Core GRT Plan amendment will be placed on the November 2026 general election ballot for South Dakotans to vote on.

Analogy for Clarity: Submitting signatures is like turning in the picnic guest list—the picnic boss checks if all picnic friends are real picnic guests, and if we have enough RSVPs (more than 35,017), our picnic plan gets to be the main picnic event in November 2026!

🗳️ Step 4: Vote in November 2026

The final step is for South Dakotans to vote on the Core GRT Plan amendment during the November 2026 general election, deciding the future of tax freedom:

  • Voting Date: The amendment will appear on the November 2026 ballot, giving all registered South Dakota voters the chance to vote “Yes” or “No.”
  • Approval Threshold: Currently, a simple majority (50% + 1) is needed to pass, but a 2025 proposal (House Joint Resolution 5003) may raise this to 60% if approved (Page 14: Constitutional Amendment). SEAL SD is mobilizing voters state-wide to ensure a strong turnout.
  • Impact of a “Yes” Vote: If passed, the Core GRT Plan takes effect on July 1, 2027, eliminating property taxes, saving $1.6 billion state-wide, and implementing the 5% GRT (Page 16: Implementation Plan).

Analogy for Clarity: Voting in November 2026 is like the big picnic party day—everyone gets to say “Yes” to a free picnic, and if most picnic friends agree (or 60% if the picnic rules change), our picnic becomes free for all starting July 1, 2027, with no more picnic spot fees!

💡 Why It Matters: Your Role in Tax Freedom

Getting the Core GRT Plan on the ballot is a citizen-led effort that embodies the power of your free will in a constitutional republic (Page 23: Understanding Our Constitutional Republic). Each step—filing the petition, collecting signatures, submitting for verification, and voting—relies on your participation to succeed. By signing the petition and voting “Yes” in November 2026, you’re securing $3,000–$5,000 in annual savings per household, protecting homes, and simplifying South Dakota’s tax system. Your involvement ensures that liberty-based reforms triumph, making South Dakota a beacon of freedom and opportunity for all.

Analogy for Clarity: You’re the picnic hero in this picnic story—writing the picnic RSVP, inviting picnic friends, checking the picnic guest list, and voting for a free picnic ensures everyone enjoys the picnic without spot fees, all because of your picnic power!

🚀 Join the Movement

Got more questions? We’re here to help. Join the movement to learn more, volunteer, and help secure tax freedom for every South Dakotan. Your voice can make a difference.

👉 Join the Movement Now →
Your voice. Your state. Your moment. Get involved today.

📂 Learn More

📅 Freedom Feast — May 10, 2025 | 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
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